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Theological Student Series. No. 1 / e7? 
PAM, ; 
MISC, 


THE 
ASSOCIATION MOVEMENT 
‘AMONG THEOLOGICAL 

| STUDENTS 


PS 





THEOLOGICAL STUDENT SERIES. No.1 


THE ASSOCIATION MOVEMENT 


AMONG | 


\ 


THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS 


ROBERT P. WILDER 


Secretary of the International Committee 
Theological Section 


NEW YORK 
The International Committee of Young Mén’s 
Christian Associations 





THE 

ASSOCIATION MOVEMENT 
AMONG 

THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS 


\ 


5 


N October 23, 1880, the American Inter- 

Seminary Missionary Alliance came into 
existence. For seventeen years this organization 
was used of God to promote among theological 
students an interest in city, home, and foreign 
missions. But while theological seminaries con- 
nected with the Alliance recognized the many 
advantages resulting from its annual conventions, 
yet so great was the dissatisfaction with the 
organization that for several years a radical 
change, or its abandonment, was desired. In 
1896, among the general principles which were 
adopted unanimously by its members, were the 
following: That the individual seminaries should, 
in many instances, at least, be better organized; 
that the Alliance should recognize and appre- 
ciate its vital relation to the Student Volunteer 
Movement; that it should be affiliated in some 
way with the World’s Student Christian Federa- 
tion; and that there be a more central perma- 
nent element in its Executive Committee. 

3 


In seeking affiliation with the Federation the 
Executive Committee of the Alliance faced a 
serious difficulty. The Federation recognizes 
only one Christian student movement in a given 
country or group of countries. The Scandina- 
vian University Christian Movement, represent- 
ing the students of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, 
and Finland, was admitted as a unit. Great 
Britain and Germany entered the Federation 
having each only one student movement which 
was recognized as in affiliation with the Feder- 
ation. It was impossible for the students of 
North America to be represented in the Feder- 
ation by more than one movement. Accordingly 
the largest and oldest of our four Christian stu- 
dent movements was admitted, namely, the Inter- 
collegiate Young Men’s Christian Association. 
The Executive Committee of the Missionary 
Alliance saw that theological students could not 
come into affiliation with the Federation unless 
they should first form themselves into the Theo- 
logical Section of the Intercollegiate Movement, 
which represented the Christian students of 
North America in the Federation. The com- 
mittee also realized that, by entering the 
Intercollegiate Movement, the theological stu- 
dents would lose nothing essential, since they 
could continue to hold conferences limited to 
theological professors and students, and since 
each Association could conduct its local work 
as it thought best; moreover, such union with 
the Intercollegiate Movement would secure 
continuity and progression in policy, better 

4 


organization in individual seminaries, and other 
objects desired by the Alliance. 

The first theological seminary to organize an 
Association, and thus join the Federation, was 
McCormick Seminary of Chicago. Subse- 
quently so many other seminaries took similar 
action that at the meeting of the Alliance, Feb- 
ruary 28, 1898, the Alliance was discontinued, 
and delegates from theological seminaries that 
had formed Associations, proceeded to organize 
themselves into the Theological Section of the 
Intercollegiate Young Men’s Christian Associa- 
tion. A committee appointed by this meeting 
have nominated Professor J. Ross Stevenson, 
D. D., and Professor W. W. White, Ph. D., to 
represent the Theological Section on the Stu- 
dent Committee of the International Committee 
of Young Men’s Christian Associations. These 
nominations have been approved by the Inter- 
national Committee. This committee has no 
legislative powers. It is appointed to serve and 
not to govern. It can do nothing to interfere 
with the independence, individuality, local 
autonomy, methods, spirit or genius of a given 
theological seminary, or of the Association in a 
given seminary. 

The Purpose of this movement is to deepen 
the spiritual life of theological students; to pro- 
mote interest in and consecration to the cause 
of missions—city, home, and foreign; and to 
bring the students of theological seminaries into 
organic relation with the World’s Student Chris- 
tian Federation. 

The Extent of the Movement. During the 

5 


first year of its existence, twenty-seven theolog- 
ical institutions, representing fifteen denomina- 
tions of evangelical Christians, organized Young 
Men’s Christian Associations within them, and 
thereby joined the movement. Two more divin- 
ity schools may be added to this number, since 
practically every student in these institutions is 
a member of the Association of the college and 
university with which these divinity schools are 
in affiliation. 

The Advantages of the Movement. First, to 
the Theological Section. It preserves the inter- 
seminary bond. After seventeen years of 
union with each other it would be most unfor- 
tunate for theological seminaries to become 
isolated units. At present this is the only move- 
ment which seeks to unite divinity schools. 
Moreover, it is a privilege for theological stu- 
dents to be connected with the strongest of the 
eleven Christian student movements of the 
world, a movement with which they became 
familiar in their college days, and which God is 
blessing abundantly. Over thirty thousand col- 
lege men have been influenced through this 
Intercollegiate movement to become followers 
of Jesus Christ, and five thousand have been led 
to enter the Christian ministry, and over ten 
thousand are yearly searching the Scriptures in 
Association Bible classes. 

A leading professor of theology has said, 
‘“ Not only for its aims, but for the chief appa- 
ratus of its methods, the seminary is dependent 
on its contact with life.’’ This new movement 
is bringing theological students into contact with 

6 


the student world, and is widening their horizon. 
It is bringing them into touch with practical 
methods and agencies already tested, and also 
with the best methods of similar organizations in 
different parts of the world. Its central com- 
mittee will help them by arranging conferences, 
employing traveling secretaries, and issuing 
publications. 

This new movement admits theological stu- 
dents to the World’s Student Christian Fed- 
eration, an organization composed of eleven 
national or international Christian student move- 
ments in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, 
and Australasia, embracing twenty-four different 
countries, including associations or unions in 
one thousand two hundred student centres, and 
having a membership of fifty-five thousand pro- 
fessors and students belonging to all the leading 
branches of Protestant Christendom. What can 
adequately represent the inspiration and sug- 
gestion that will come from union with sucha 
world-wide movement of Christian students! 

Secondly, The Advantages to the Association 
Movement. Without its Theological Section 
the Student Association Movement would be the 
exception to the rule, since every other move- 
ment within the Federation includes theological 
students. In many of these movements divinity 
students are found conspicuously among the 
leaders. 

The formation of the Theological Section will 
also insure a ministry which will be sympa- 
thetic with the Young Men’s Christian Associa- 
tion Movement. 


ae 


It will help to bridge the chasm between 
theological and other students. As members 
of the Association Movement there will be a 
mutual interest, which has too often been lack- 
ing between theological students and Chris- 
tian students in colleges and other professional 
schools. Theological men believe that the 
Theological Section will aid the College Sec- 
tion, especially along the lines of Bible study 
and missions; that they can help win college 
men for Christ, and can influence leading col- 
lege students to consider the claims of the 
Christian ministry. This unselfish argument 
has appealed most strongly to theological stu- 
dents in leading them to join the movement. 

A professor of a Protestant Episcopal Semi- 
nary, in urging his students to form an Asso- 
ciation, emphasized the opportunity which 
such an organization would furnish the men 
of his seminary to influence for good their 
state university. Only an inter-denominational 
organization can obtain entrance into a state 
university. The Seminary Association could 
send delegates to the University Association, 
and press home the claims of Christ upon uni- 
versity men. The professor added: ‘‘The pro- 
phet could not restore the dead to life by laying 
his staff upon him. Close personal contact was 
necessary. When mouth touched mouth, and 
eyes rested upon eyes, and hands clasped hands, 
and the prophet stretched himself upon the 
child, the dead lad came back to life.’’ This 
movement enables theological students, through 
correspondence, visitation, literature, and con- 

8 


ferences, to aid the preparatory, arts, science, 
law, and medical students Godward. ‘‘Bear ye 
one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of 
Christ.”’ 

The Requirements for Admission into the 
Movement. Toa theological institution which 
wishes to join the movement, only three articles 
in the suggested constitution are essential, viz., 
those on the name, membership, and amend- 
ments. Each theological seminary or divinity 
school is at liberty to prepare its own constitu- 
tion in accordance with its own local needs, 
with the above-mentioned exceptions. Copies 
of ‘‘The Plan of Organization for Theologi- 
cal Students,’’ containing the three essential 
articles, can be obtained from the Student De- 
partment, International Committeee of Young 
Men’s Christian Associations, 3 West Twenty- 
Ninth Street, New York City. 

The prayer, ‘‘that they all may be one,”’ is 
being answered through this movement, and 
the World’s Student Christian Federation to 
which it belongs. The possibilities before these 
movements are limitless, because they are work- 
ing for the world’s evangelization in loyal 
obedience to the living Christ, who has all 
authority in heaven and in earth. 


311. 


312. 


318. 


324. 


326. 


329. 


330. 


382. 


335. 


Some Publications Helpfulto Theological 
Students 


Studies in the Gospel of Luke. Robert E. Speer. 
Price, paper, ten cents; cloth, twenty cents. 


Studies in the Book of Acts. Robert E. Speer. 
Price, paper, twenty-five cents; cloth, forty 
cents. 


The [lissionary Department of the College Asso= 
ciation. Revised edition. John R. Mott. Price 
BENECeILS: 


The Intercollegiate Movement. John R. Mott. 
Price five cents. 


Studies in Jeremiah. Wilbert W. White. Price, 
paper, twenty cents; cloth, thirty cents. 


Studies in the Parables of Jesus. William H. 
Sallmon. Price, paper, fifteen cents; cloth, 
twenty-five cents. 


The Secret Prayer Life. John R. Mott. Also 
issued by the British College Christian Union. 
Price five cents. 


Bible Study for Spiritual Growth. John R. Mott. 
Also issued by the British College Christian 
Union. Price five cents. r 


Studies in the Life of Christ. H. B. Sharman. 
Based on a Harmony of the Gospels, by 
Stevens and Burton. Price of Studies, in paper, 
with Harmony and map of Palestine, $1.25; 
with Studies in cloth, $1.50. Priceof Harmony 
and a map of Palestine, $1.00. Price of map of 
Palestine, ten cents. Price of Studies, alone, 
paper, fifty cents; cloth, seventy-five cents. 


The Morning Watch. John R. Mott. Price five 
cents. 


The Association Movement Among Theological 
Students. Robert P. Wilder. Price five cents. 


336. The Plan of Organization for Theological Stu- 
dents. Robert P. Wilder. Price five cents. 


337. Studies in the Acts and Epistles. E. I. Bosworth. 
Based on the Records and Epistles of the 
Apostolic Age, by Earnest DeWitt Burton. 
Price of Studies, in paper, with Records and 
Letters, etc., $1.25. (Cloth Studies not ready.) 
Price of Records and Letters of the Apostolic 
Age, $1.00. Price of Studies alone, paper, 50 
cents. 


Stragetic Points in the World’s Conquest. John R. 
Mott. 12 mo, cloth, $1.00. 


International Committee of Young Men’s 
Christian Associations, 
3 West Twenty-Ninth Street, New York. 


The Intercollegian. 


The official organ of the Student Department of 
Young Men’s Christian Associations, and of the Stu- 
dent Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions. 


Published monthly during the academic year (Octo- 
ber to June). 


Subscription price, fifty cents per year, in advance. 
Address, 
The Intercollegian, 
3 West Twenty-Ninth Street, 
New York. 


Publications, Student Volunteer Movement. 


The Student Missionary Appeal. Report Third Inter- 
national Convention (Cleveland, 1898) of the 
Student Volunteer Movement. 565 pages. 
Cloth, $1.50, postpaid. 


Dawn on the Hills of T’ang; or [Missions in China. By 
Harlan P. Beach. A valuable hand-book, con- 
taining the latest missionary map of China. 
Paper, thirty-five cents; cloth, fifty cents. 


Africa Waiting. By Douglas M. Thornton. No better 
hand-book on Missions in the Dark Continent; 
excellent map. Paper, twenty-five cents. 


Missionary Fact Record Book. An indexed memo- 
randum book, bound in leather. Seventy-five 
cents. 


Prayer and Missions. Robert E. Speer. Five centsa 
copy. 
The Bible and Foreign Missions. Robert P. Wilder. 


Also issued by the British Student Volunteer 
Missionary Union. Five cents a copy. 


The Volunteer Band for Foreign Missions. D. Willard 
Lyon. Five cents a copy. 


The Volunteer Declaration. D. Willard Lyon. Five 
cents a copy. 


The Supreme Decision of the Christian Student. 
George Sherwood Eddy. Five cents a copy. 

The Opportunity of the Hour; or Christian Steward=- 
ship. George Sherwood Eddy. Five cents a 
copy. 

The Field Campaign. Robert E. Lewis. Five cents a 


Copy. 
Send orders to 


Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, 


3 West Twenty-Ninth Street, New York. 








